Test drive Ford EcoSport
EcoSport froze in front of a huge puddle somewhere in the woods near Volodarka - during the night the country road was washed out so that it seems that it is possible to safely deliver the crossover to Moscow only by helicopter. Somewhere near the windshield there is a piece of paper with the license plate of the tractor driver who repeatedly pulled me out of the trap ...
EcoSport froze in front of a huge puddle somewhere in the forests near Volodarka - during the night the country road was washed away so that it seems safe to deliver the crossover to Moscow only by helicopter. Somewhere near the windshield is a piece of paper with the number of the tractor driver who repeatedly pulled me out of the trap. He is the only reason why I still decided to go further, and not wait for the drought. Otherwise, the trip through the deep puddle looked like a pure adventure: I didn’t even have rubber boots. But no one had to call - Ford did everything on its own, ideally crossing the ford, only striking the crankcase protection once.
On Saturday nights, when the underground parking lot at the mall is 146% full, finding an empty space for EcoSport takes no more time than parking a supermarket trolley. Another thing is that you need to be very careful when loading purchases into the crossover: you would not hook the mirror on the neighboring Camry with the swing door. Opened up? Then check if there is a concrete post next to it with the number of the parking space - the door can touch it too. And all because of the fifth, spare wheel, which, in the manner of large SUVs at EcoSport, is fixed at the rear. But it certainly won't be the fifth wheel in its SUV segment.
The decline in the popularity of Ford cars in Russia is primarily due to the slow updating of the model range. And the priorities of buyers have already shifted towards the B-class sedans - the Americans did not have such a car at all. Ford admitted that dealers could sell only three EcoSports at the beginning of the year for a whole weekend. But things are now even worse for competitors: Opel Mokka self-destructed, Peugeot 2008 completely failed, and Nissan Juke now stands, almost like Teana. So it turned out that EcoSport is almost doomed to class leadership.
I leave the office, look up and almost drop my laptop: the test Ford EcoSport is standing with a rumpled rear door. Rough scratches on the rear fender, a jammed sill edge and a crumbling plastic molding on the door - at least a truck drove into the crossover. I look at the wheel rim and understand that the car is not ours - instead of cast 16-inch ones, there are “stampings” with caps installed here. I exhaled. There are really a lot of "EcoSports" on the roads. And, interestingly, they are mainly in the most expensive Titanium or Titanium Plus trim levels - with heated seats, climate control and a multimedia system. But these are the features of the price list: between the base and top SUV about $ 4.
Externally EcoSport - crossover with oddities, but it only suits him. In profile, the SUV looks disproportionate: Ford has too much ground clearance for its size, a tall roofline and tiny overhangs. You look at it in three quarters - and this is a completely different car, with strict lines, powerful stamping on the sidewalls and a narrow squint of optics. That very fifth wheel visually makes the rear part heavier, and in general it is good that the spare tire was taken out of the trunk - it is already tiny (only 310 liters). In addition, the swing door is much more convenient to use in the garage, where there is a risk of damaging it on the low roof. But there is one big problem: because of the wheel, it is very inconvenient to maneuver in reverse. Not only does it block the view, but also the parking sensors are triggered too late. You will not be able to park "until a squeak" - there is a risk of driving into a neighboring car.
There is no rear-view camera here - no matter how much money you bring to the dealers, it will not be installed on EcoSport. In general, as far as equipment is concerned, the "American" looks unadvanced compared to its competitors: it does not have turbo engines, and the list of available options is not too long. However, there is plenty to choose from. For example, the most expensive version has cruise control, rain and light sensors, a keyless entry system, a heated steering wheel and Bluetooth. However, even for a surcharge, it is impossible to install xenon optics on the EcoSport - although the halogens are located high above the road, they shine too dimly. And climate control can only be single-zone.
Poor configurations and the absence of some options can be easily attributed to the origin of EcoSport. This is a new model for us, but meanwhile the crossover has been sold in the South American markets since 2003. For the same reason, the Russian buyer of this SUV has a number of technical questions. For example, the cooling system works in an enhanced mode and after stopping the engine, the fan will cool the cramped engine compartment for a couple of minutes. This happens at almost any temperature outside and does not depend on the duration of the trip. EcoSport also has a very short windshield deflector, which is very inconvenient in rainy weather: the stove fan has to be turned on at maximum speed.
The test EcoSport with a 6-speed "mechanics" and a 2,0-liter engine (140 hp), contrary to its name, does not amaze with either dynamics or economy. Due to the high ground clearance and too soft suspension, the crossover convulsively nods at fast starts and sways on bumps. Closer to the cutoff, the sound of the engine turns into a ringing, and the box begins to hum. The EcoSport is good in the middle rev range: thanks to a decent torque of 186 Nm by the standards of the class, the crossover confidently accelerates from city speeds.
In the urban cycle, EcoSport burns an average of 13 liters per "hundred", while on the highway it is not easy to keep within 8-9 - high ground clearance affects and, as a result, not the best aerodynamics. With not the most modest appetites, the crossover has a small tank - only 52 liters, so during the test it was necessary to call in to the gas station more often than once a week.
Wherever the buyer sits - in the Juke, 2008 or Mokka - the same problem is everywhere: a disproportionate interior. Due to the high roofline, short overhangs and a small wheelbase, the salons of representatives of this segment turned out to be narrow and tall. And EcoSport was no exception, but here this problem was partially solved by reducing the volume of the trunk. As a result, the rear bench has just as much legroom as the new Focus. But you can't put five passengers in a Ford for other reasons: it has too little payload - only 312 kilograms. Four people 80 kg each - and the limit has already been exceeded. And okay, if we were only talking about dry numbers - an overloaded EcoSport sits on the rear arches, and the body begins to shake on any irregularities.
But on rough terrain, the EcoSport is one of the most capable crossovers in its class. And the point here is not only that forest puddle - the geometric cross-country ability of the EcoSport is almost the best in the segment: the ground clearance is an honest 200 mm, and the angles of entry and exit due to short overhangs are comparable to those of frame SUVs (22 and 35 degrees, respectively). Moreover, Ford is able to force a ford with a depth of 550 millimeters.
The EcoSport would sell even better if it had more varied modifications. The crossover has only one version with two pedals, and even that is front-wheel drive. The base SUV is equipped with a 1,6-liter gasoline aspirated with 122 horsepower (from $ 12). This engine can be paired with a Powershift "robot" or with a 962-speed "mechanics". The top EcoSport can only be with a manual transmission and an all-wheel drive system (from $ 5).
EcoSport is perhaps the only B-class crossover in which utility and off-road capabilities are put above striking appearance. The South American pedigree has only benefited this SUV: it is better prepared for the Russian reality than the adapted Mokka or Juke.
